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OverviewThe Detour Lake project is located on the northern most, relatively under-explored, Abitibi Greenstone Belt in northeastern Ontario. It encompasses 265 square kilometres, including the Detour Lake deposit, which contains an in-pit gold resource of 13.2 million ounces (measured and indicated resource of 10.8 million ounces and inferred resource of 2.4 million ounces) based on a detailed engineered pit design. The Detour Lake deposit is situated in the area of the former Detour Lake mine, which was operated by Placer Dome and produced 1.8 million ounces of gold from 1983 to 1999. In addition, Detour Gold has a 50% interest in Block A located west of the Detour Lake project. The Detour Lake project is approximately eight kilometres west of the Ontario-Quebec border and 180 kilometres northeast of Cochrane, Ontario. Access to the property is available via the Detour Lake mine road, an extension of Highway 652 from Cochrane, as well as by air to the site's 1.6 kilometre gravel airstrip. In October 2008, Detour Gold exercised its option with Goldcorp Canada ("Goldcorp") for a 100% interest in the Detour Lake Mine Property, which hosts the current resource. Detour Gold is assuming all of Goldcorp's liabilities and obligations relating to the Mine Property. Part of the exploration properties and the Mine Property are subject to a 2% NSR to Franco-Nevada and a 1% NSR to Goldcorp. The Company has the right to purchase the NSR from Goldcorp at any time by paying Goldcorp the sum of Cdn $1 Million.
Detour Lake project - Location & general geology
Project HistoryThe Detour Lake mine was discovered by Amoco Petroleum Limited in 1974. Most of the past exploration and mine development has been carried out by four main operators, including Amoco, Campbell Red Lake Mines, Placer Dome and Pelangio Mines Inc. Amoco conducted the initial work between 1974 and 1979, followed by Campbell between 1979 and 1987, Placer Dome between 1987 and 1999 and Pelangio between 1999 and 2006. A minor amount of work was also completed by a number of small companies, such as Global Energy Limited, Gowest Amalgamated and Destor Resources Exploration. The first mining activity at the property was by Campbell between 1983 and 1986, utilizing open pit methods. Campbell and then Placer Dome mined the deposit by underground methods until July 1999. Details regarding the original open pit are limited, but indications are that small-scale equipment and a selective mining approach were used. The open pit extended to a depth of approximately 120 metres with an estimated strip ratio of 4.5:1 (excluding low grade ore). Underground mining was conducted from the 120 metre level to approximately 785 metre below surface. Access for mining was provided by a 600 metre shaft located approximately 150 metre west of the open pit, as well as a series of ramps extending to the 785 metre level. Past production totalled approximately 1,764,986 ounces of gold from the milling of just over 14.3 million tonnes of ore at an average recovered grade of 3.82 g/t, including 5.2 million tonnes grading 2.57 g/t (430,516 ounces) from the open pit and 9.1 million tonnes grading 4.98 g/t (1,464,431 ounces) from underground. Average mill recoveries were 93.2 %. From 2004 to 2006, Pelangio drilled 127 holes totalling 29,780 metres. Results from this recent work outlined a near-surface gold resource (0 to 250 metres) of 160,000 ounces in the indicated category and 850,000 ounces in the inferred category.
Geology & MineralizationThe Detour Lake project is located within the northwestern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield. It is centred on the contact of the Stoughton-Rocquemaure volcanic assemblages and the Porcupine sedimentary sequence. The Stoughton-Rocquemaure volcanic assemblage is comprised primarily of massive and pillowed mafic volcanics and minor ultramafics, while the Porcupine assemblage is comprised of a clastic sedimentary package consisting of conglomerate, greywacke and argillite. The Sunday Lake Deformation Zone ("SLDZ") is a major east-west structure in the area located on the northern contact of the Porcupine sediments. It is defined by a deeply mylonitized and mineralized siliceous alteration zone, referred as the Chert Marker Horizon ("CMH"), which marks the contact between the basaltic and ultramafic terranes. The bulk of the gold mineralization at Detour Lake is found in the hanging wall of the CMH. The hanging wall is composed of a thick assemblage of iron-rich tholeiitic mafic flows that are predominantly massive to pillowed, with minor rhyolitic flows and tuffs. The mineralized east-west corridor forms a 200 m wide (locally up to 350 m) zone that is characterized by swarms of steeply dipping mineralized quartz veining splaying off the SLDZ. The richest gold mineralized zones are commonly associated with increased biotite alteration, shearing, narrow quartz veining and pyrite or pyrrhotite. Local zones of strong brecciation with sulphide infilling have also been recognized along with chalcopyrite, telluride minerals and visible gold. Visible gold is usually found as specks, clusters or fracture coatings, and its abundance may be associated with the chlorite and chalcopyrite content of the vein. Pillowed flows or hyaloclastites are the preferred hosts to mineralized zones. In the area of the Calcite Zone, the gold mineralization is closely associated with weak potassic and strong carbonate alteration and often contains carbonate in veinlets and quartz veins.
Mineral ResourcesOn July 2, 2008, Detour Gold reported a mineral resource update (previous one was in December 2007) that included the historical drilling, Phase I drill results (49,322 metres), 51% of Phase II drill results (73,469 metres). The results showed a 125% increase in measured and indicated gold resources from 4.8 million ounces to 10.8 million ounces while inferred gold resources have decreased 20% from 3.0 million ounces to 2.4 million ounces. The proposed open pit extends 2.7 kilometres in length and up to 650 metres in depth. There is excellent potential for additional mineralization along strike, especially west of the Calcite Zone for several kilometres. The mineralized system has also not been fully tested to the north in the hanging wall outside of the main 200 metre wide corridor. The deposit remains open below the former open pit where significant gold mineralization was intersected in the footwall of the chert marker horizon (CMH) . Based on a cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t gold and a gold price of US$700 per ounce, the in-pit resources included in a detailed engineered pit design are shown below (Table 1).
Table 1. June 2008 Detailed Engineered Pit Design Resource Estimate
Base Case US$700/oz
The mineral resource increase is largely due to:
2008 Detour Lake Block Model Click to enlarge Mineral Resource Estimate MethodThe current block model was prepared by Thon Consulting ("Thon") of Smithers, British Columbia. Mineral resources were estimated within a Lerchs Grossman ("LG") optimized pit shell based on the concept of a large-scale open pit with the following pit parameters to establish the cut-off grade: gold price of US$700 per ounce, $5.50/t for milling, $1.58/t for ore and waste mining and $1.00/t for general and administration (G&A), gold recoveries of 92%, US$ exchange rate of 1.10, and pit slopes of 55 degrees. Pit parameters were provided by the engineering firm of BBA Inc. ("BBA") of Montréal, Québec. The block model mineral resources falling within the LG optimized pit shell were subsequently audited by Watts, Griffis and McOuat Limited ("WGM") and validated by BBA before proceeding with the engineered pit design. WGM has concluded from their work and review that the search distance for both the indicated and inferred categories can be increased from 20 to 30 metres and from 40 to 50 metres, respectively, as a result of improved continuity of the deposit. Gold assays are capped at 20 g/t as per the historic capping at the former mine and the December 2007 mineral resource estimate. Preliminary and ongoing independent geostatistical studies based on all drill results to date indicated that a higher capping grade could be used in the resource estimate. The mineral resource estimate within the US$700 LG pit shell (using a cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t gold) on 10X5X10 meter blocks is presented below (Table 2). The overall waste to ore stripping ratio is 5.7.
Table 2. June 2008 Mineral Resource Estimate prior to Detailed Engineered Pit Design
(by Thon and audited by WGM)
Mineral Resources in Detailed Engineered Pit DesignThe optimization and designs of the US$700 pit by BBA (Base Case -- Table 1) were based on the block model supplied by Thon. For the Base Case, BBA used the economical input parameters presented above. The design pit included an operational haul road and pit slope as per recommendations from Golder Associates; benching arrangement and configuration; and smoothing of pit walls and berms. The mine operating cost established by BBA is based on a preliminary mine schedule at a mining rate of 30,000 tonnes per day (tpd) for the first two years of operation and 60,000 tpd in the subsequent years. Although the preliminary estimates for projected costs (reported on page 2) are believed to be realistic, as they are based on projects of similar (or lesser) production rates, they should be considered preliminary and subject to a high degree of risk. BBA used an overall gold recovery rate of 92% (metallurgical testwork completed by Melis Engineering Ltd. yielded recoveries ranging from 91% to 95%). The following are the main open pit design parameters used by BBA:
1. Pit ramp of 10% gradient and 32 metres wide to support 2-way haulage for 218 tonne capacity; Based on those design parameters described above, BBA generated an engineered pit containing the mineral resources shown in Table 1, which is now considered the Base Case. The overall waste to ore stripping ratio is 6.29. A summary table of the in-pit resources by cut-off grades from 0.3 g/t Au to 0.9 g/t Au is presented in the table below (Table 3) for the $700 engineered pit. The in-pit resources between 0.30 g/t and 0.5 g/t Au will be stored on a low grade stockpile located near the primary crushing plant.
Table 3. In-Pit Resources by Cut-Off Grade- Engineered Pit Design - US$700/oz
Notes:
(1) The mineral resources are classified as measured, indicated and inferred, and comply with the CIM mineral resource definitions referenced in National Instrument 43-101. BBA also conducted a sensitivity analysis to generate a resource estimate with no capping. As expected, the result of the analysis as shown below (Table 4) indicated a significant increase in the gold grade for all categories.
Table 4. Capping Sensitivity for June 2008 Detailed Engineered Pit Design
Resource Estimate - Base Case US$700/oz
Preliminary Mining Schedule A preliminary mining schedule was prepared for the development of the Detour Gold project and is presented below (Table 5). The mining schedule is based on a mining rate of 30,000 tpd for Year 1 and Year 2, followed by an increase to 60,000 tpd for subsequent mining years until the end of the mine life. The schedule is created using five (5) mining phases, about 3 to 4 years per phase including a starter pit to allow for a higher average grade and a lower stripping ratio to maximize the return on the investment. A cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t is used and the schedule consists of all mineral categories (i.e. measured, indicated and inferred). The preparation of this preliminary mining schedule does not include mining dilution and gold recovery factor.
Table 5. Preliminary Mining Schedule
Pit Slope Design Upside Potential Subsequent to the mineral resource update of July 2, 2008, results from acoustic televiewer (ATV) surveys carried out in three exploration holes targeting the footwall slopes indicated that the pit slopes could be steepened to 53 degrees from 49 degrees in certain portions of the footwall. These improvements will be incorporated in the final pit design of the feasibility study currently underway. Further improvements are expected, especially at the west end of the deposit, as the Company completes its infill drill program (remaining Phase II and Phase III) and incorporates them in the US$700/oz engineered pit design.
Detour Gold August 2008 Technical Report -
Detour Gold January 2008 Technical Report -
Project DevelopmentThe Company anticipates concluding a pre-feasibility study for the Detour Lake gold project in the second quarter of 2009 followed by a feasibility study later this year. Since late 2008, the mining industry is experiencing substantial declines for input costs for both capital and operating parameters, which the Detour Lake project is expecting to benefit from. The Company expects that the time frames for the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies will allow the Company's engineering consultants to maximize opportunities for both cost reductions and project enhancements. The pre-feasibility study currently underway is being prepared by Met-Chem Canada Inc. ("Met-Chem") in conjunction with the additional consulting firms noted below. Metallurgical tests have been completed and conclude excellent gold recoveries ranging from 91% to 95%. The process plant design is expected to incorporate both a gravity circuit and a standard carbon-in-pulp (CIP) circuit for gold recovery. Trade-off studies to determine the appropriate throughput rate for the deposit currently suggest an optimized rate of 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes per day. Tailings and infrastructure studies, being conducted by AMEC Earth and Environmental (a Division of AMEC Americas Limited) and Ausenco Minerals Canada Inc. respectively, are well advanced. The Company is also proceeding with the re-permitting of the existing right of way for the construction of the power line and connection to the existing power grid. The Company is advancing work on the next block model for a new mineral resource and reserve estimate to be used in the pre-feasibility study. To date, Detour Gold has outlined a measured and indicated resource of 10.8 million ounces (242.9 million tonnes grading 1.38 g/t gold) and an inferred resource of 2.4 million ounces (63.9 million tonnes grading 1.19 g/t gold), based on a detailed engineered pit design at US$700/oz gold price (refer to July 2, 2008 Press Release).
Results from an additional 102,000 metres of infill diamond drilling (completed since the last resource estimate of July 2, 2008) will be incorporated in the pre-feasibility study. In total, the study will incorporate the results from approximately 225,000 metres of drilling by the Company in the project database totaling approximately 788,000 metres of drilling. Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Toronto has been retained to independently audit the new mineral resource estimate for the study. The Company has also retained SGS Geostat Ltée of Blainville (Montreal) to conduct further gold assay capping studies. Current studies suggest that a higher capping grade could be used in the upcoming pre-feasibility study than the 20 g/t gold previously used. Following the audit of the mineral resource estimate, BBA Inc. of Montreal will be providing the mineral reserve statement and design of the proposed engineered open pit.
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